A Class was a close call between Pat Snelgrove, the eventual champion and Ken Henson with David Moser taking 3rd. 

In B Class, newcomer Don Masters takes 1st and Phil Law takes 2nd while also first timer Alma Doyle takes 3rd. 

C Class we had a 3 way tie for first with Kevin Snelgrove taking the first tie-breaker game over Newcomer Eric Bridges giving Eric Third and then the final game of Kevin battling Richard Revell. Kevin finally takes the championship after a good game by both.

I hope all had a good time. 
See you in the spring! Kirk 

Pat and I traveled down on Friday in hope of getting there early in the day and enjoy a little bit of the great fishing that had been hype up. We did get there around 2 in the afternoon, found a room and then stopped by the courts to find 8 people pitching there. We chatted for a while and finally I said that is it, I'm going fishing. Well that broke open a conversation as to where, and just how good the fishing was.  

With hopes up, Pat and I headed of to the Sandbridge pier with all the local tips as to how to catch things. What bait to use and where to stand on the pier. We arrived at the pier right at sunset. It took us about an hour to get there, but I'm sure there was a faster way to get there, we just didn't have someone local to follow. 

At the courts, a strong breeze was present. Folks were saying it will be rough out there. When we finally drove in the pier parking lot the winds had slowed a bit and was blowing west to east. The water appeared very calm. Anxious to get out there we thread our poles, grab our bait and started the walk to the pier. As we approached the pier I was wondering why everyone was walking towards us. A Coast Guard attendant approached us and said "Today is the first day of the winter schedule, we close a 5:00 pm". Heart broken and disappointed we packed up. 

Sitting in the truck we gave Kirk a call, he suggested perhaps the Virginia Beach pier. So off we went, 10 miles north. Pulling into the parking lot for the Virginia Beach Pier I said to Pat " This doesn't look good!" Parked the truck and walked out to the entrance. Close for the Season will reopen in April was hanging on the sign. Disappointed again, I called Kirk he suggested one other pier, but before we hung up I asked him to call and see if was open. A few minutes later he called back. Disappointing news. No it was not. 

Ok so what do you do on a Friday night, 6:30 PM. Get some supper. By the time Kirk had called back we had passed the exit for George's Seafood Restaurant. During the Chesapeake open, Wayne and Delissa Sturtz had boasted about it. We had joined Wayne and Delissa there in July. Talk about a fantastic buffet. I would highly recommend it. 

As we got closer to Chesapeake we thought about going back to Joe's Crab Shack, but we had had lunch there. I had Crab over ziti. the plate was so big, I only ate half of it. Not thinking, I did not ask for a doggy bag. I wish I had, the left over was more than enough to feed us that evening. So we walked in to the Texas Steak House and Saloon. After a small wait we where seated. Great food, and very good service. Our belly's full we retired for the night. 

Saturday morning was cold indeed. The tournament went well. Kirk and Alma did a wonderful job of running their first sanctioned event. A few guidelines from Pat and I, but after all was said and done they ran the event and did a good job of it. Pat and I never expected to take home 1st place in each of our classes. Perhaps it was because we are used to the cold weather.  

By the time the tournament was over with, there was not enough time left in the day to take in a fishing trip. So we postponed it until Sunday morning.

Sunday morning I let Pat sleep as late as I could stand it. Finally  at 7:30 I shook her, gave her a coffee and by 8:30 we where off for the pier at Sandbridge. Having all the right bait, the poles and the enthusiasm we headed off. We fished for 4 hours and did not catch a thing. It seemed as though everyone on the north side of the pier was catching fish. There was this one lady that would catch one on the north and then come over to the south side and catch one right in front of us.  Mean while we enjoyed watching the dolphins swim by with out a bite. There was even a few nuts out there trying to surfboard. A little to cold for me. 

We left at 1:00 heading home. All tolled we didn't catch at thing. Saw some big fish caught and both of us came home with 1st place. So, in the end we both still had a wonderful time. 

Great food, lots of fun, and we got to be with our family. 

Kevin